How the Tip Calculator works

Enter the bill amount, choose a tip percentage, and say how many people are sharing. The calculator then shows the tip, the grand total, and what each person pays. The tip is the bill multiplied by the percentage divided by 100, the total is the bill plus the tip, and the per-person amount is the total divided by the number of people. The tip percentage starts at 15% but you can change it to any value you like.

A worked example

Imagine a restaurant bill of 84.50 and an 18% tip. The tip is 84.50 × 0.18 = 15.21, so the total is 84.50 + 15.21 = 99.71. If four friends split the bill equally, each person pays 99.71 ÷ 4, which rounds to 24.93. Another quick example: on a bill of 120 with an 18% tip, the tip is 21.60 and the total is 141.60, so three people each pay 47.20.

Quick mental math

You can estimate a tip without a calculator. To find 10%, move the decimal point one place to the left, so 10% of 60 is 6. For 20%, double that to get 12. For 15%, add half of the 10% figure to it, so 6 plus 3 gives 9. These shortcuts are handy at the table, and the calculator is there when you want an exact figure or need to split the bill.

Tipping customs vary

Tipping norms differ widely between countries and even between types of service. In the United States, a tip of 15 to 20% is customary for table service. In many European countries, a service charge is often included and people may simply round up or leave a few coins. In Japan, tipping is generally not expected at all. Because customs differ, this tool leaves the percentage up to you rather than assuming one rate. If you are travelling, check local norms and look at your bill to see whether a service charge has already been added.

Before or after tax, and fair splitting

Many people calculate the tip on the pre-tax amount, while others tip on the total. Either is acceptable, so enter the figure you want the tip based on. An equal split is simple, but it can feel unfair if one person ordered much more than the others. In that case, work out each person's share of the food first, then apply the same tip percentage to each share. This tool gives general information only.

Planning your spend

It helps to decide on your tip percentage before the bill arrives, so you are not making the choice under pressure. As a simple guide, on a bill of 100 a tip of 10% is 10, 15% is 15, 18% is 18, and 20% is 20, so the percentage and the amount match when the bill is 100. When you split a bill, many groups round the per-person amount up to the next whole number, which keeps things simple and slightly increases the tip. If the service was poor or unusually good, adjust the percentage rather than following a fixed rule.